Gas filter mounting structure

ABSTRACT

An improved gas filter comprising at least two arc-like filter housing sectors connected in end-to-end relationship to form an annular ring, the ring including sealing strips cooperable with the peripheral wall and adjacent ends of the sectors to permit gas tight engagement of the filter ring relative an annular passage of a plenum defining housing.

United States Patent Welch et 21].

GAS FILTER MOUNTING STRUCTURE Wilson A. Welch; William A. Medcalf, bothof Louisville, Ky.

Jan. 21, 1969 Inventors:

Filed:

Appl. N0.:

Int. Cl ..B0ld 27/08 Field ol Search ..55/490, 493, 498, 500, 510,55/502, 521; 210/478, 480, 493, 485

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,486,626 12/1969 Close..55/498 US. Cl ..55/493, 55/498, 55/502,

[451 Mar. 21, 1972 Primary Examiner-Iran]; W. Lutter AssistantExaminer-Bernard Nozick Attorneyl.eonard Rawicz, Frederick J. Lees,Alvin S. Bass, Marvin F. Matthews and Marvin J. Marnock 57 ABSTRACT Animproved gas filter comprising at least two arc-like filter housingsectors connected in end-to-end relationship to form an annular ring,the ring including sealing strips cooperable with the peripheral walland adjacent ends of the sectors to permit gas tight'cngagement of thefilter ring relative an annu lar passage of a plenum defining housing.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAR'ZI m2 ":3, 650.095

INVENTOR.

M07500 A. l Ve/ch I\///// am A. Medea/F 'Arroxiley GAS FILTER MOUNTINGSTRUCTURE ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION The invention described herein wasmade in the performance of work under a NASA contract and is subject tothe provisions of Section 305 of the National Aeronautics and Space Actof 1958, public Law 85-568 (72 stat. 435, 42 U.S.C. 2457).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvedfilter apparatus for gas separation, and more particularly, to a new,useful and unobvious arrangement of a ring-type filter structurecooperable with an annular passage of a plenum defining housing.

A number of filter cell arrangements are known in the art of gasfiltration to secure filter cells in sealed relation to their supportframes. These past arrangements have included complex, time-consumingand expensive apparatus to fasten the cell to its support frame and haverequired application of edge sealant materials along a multitude ofpossible leak passages between the cell and the frame. I

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, recognizing that pastmounting arrangements have presented problems in construction, mounting,sealing, wear, clamping and leakage, as well as problems in filter cellaccess and removal, provides a filter cell and mounting arrangementwhich is straightforward and economical in construction and maintenance,allowing quick installation and removal with a minimum of leakage and amaximum of access for installation and removal. In addition, the presentinvention provides an arrangement which permits accurate alignment of afilter cell on its support frame, requiring a minimum application ofedge sealant materials.

Various other features of the present invention will become obvious toone skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure set forth herein.

More particularly, the present invention provides a ringshaped filteradaptable to surround an annular passage of a plenum defining housing topermit gas flow between the interior of the plenum housing and theexterior of the housing comprising: at least two arclike housingsectors, each including spaced opposed wall members having filter mediadisposed therebetween, the sectors being disposed in end-to-endconnected relationship to form a ring with one pair of adjacent ends ofthe end-to-end sectors being held together by perimetric positionedreleasable clamp means; and sealing strips disposed along the peripheraledges of the opposed wall members and between the ends thereof to permitgastight engagement of the filter about the annular passage of theplenum defining housing.

It is to be understood that various changes can be made in thearrangement, form, and construction of the apparatus disclosed hereinwithout departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention. 1

Referring to the drawing which discloses one advantageous embodiment ofthe present invention:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational viewvof a portion of two filter framesectors including a releasable clamp means cooperable between adjacentends thereof;

FIG. 2 is a slightly reduced planview of the filter frame of FIG. Idisclosing the frame in closed position;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the frame of FIG. 1 disclosing the frame inopen position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, broken-away plan view of the frame of FIGS. 1 to3, disclosing the releasable latch means in closed position; and

FIG. 5 is a reduced view of the frame of FIGS. 1 to 4, disclosing theframe surrounding an annular passage of a plenum defining housing.

Referring to the drawing, the novel filter frame is disclosed asincluding two arclike filter frame sectors 3 and 4. It is to beunderstood that the present invention is not limited to a two sectorring, but that additional sectors can be used to make up a ring.

As can be seen in FIG. 1 of the drawing, each sector includes spacedopposed wall members 6 and 7, which can be formed from any one of anumber of suitable materials, and advantageously, are formed from alightweight gauge aluminum. Disposed in pleated fashion between spacedopposed wall members 6 and 7 is a suitable filter media 8.Advantageously, media 8 can be a random lay fiber glass material with asmall amount of organic binder. It is to be understood that other typesof filter media can be utilized, and that the filter media need not bepleated if a lesser amount of media surface is desirable. Suitablesealing gaskets which can be of silicone rubber are provided along theedges of the filter media to assure that the edges are in perfectlysealed engagement with wall members 6 and 7.

As can be seen in FIG. 2 of the drawing, wall members 6 and 7 of one endsector 3 are provided with spaced opposed extension arms 9. The spacedwall members of the other end sector 4 receive the arms 9 in overlappingrelationship and the walls and extension arms are provided with alignedapertures to receive pin 11 so as to permit opening and closing of theringshaped frame which they form about an annular passage of a plenumhousing to which the frame is mounted. The other ends of sectors 3 and 4can be held together by a suitable perimetric releasable clamp 12. Clamp12 includes a handoperated overcenter hooked end latch member 13pivotally mounted about pin 14 intermediate spaced opposed wall members6 and 7 at one end of one of a pair of adjacent ends of sectors 3 and 4to extend longitudinally along the periphery of the ring-shaped filter.The other end of the other pair of adjacent ends of sectors 3 and 4 isprovided with a V-notched keeper 16 suitably disposed to receive thehook portion of hook latch 13. Accordingly, when sectors 3 and 4 areplaced in end-to-end relationship, the hook engages into the V- shapednotch to exert a tightening effect along the periphery of thering-shaped filter.

In order to insure effective sealing engagement of the ringshaped filterformed by sectors 3 and 4 with an annular passage of a plenum chambersuch as that disclosed at 17 in FIG. 5, suitable sealing strips 18 aredisposed along the peripheral edges of the opposed wall members 6 and 7and between the ends thereof as at 19 to permit gastight engagement ofthe filter frame about the annular passage of the plenum defininghousing, the peripheral forces of the releasable latch member serving totighten the sealing strips around the housing and to place the endsthereof in closed sealing engagement therewith.

We claim:

1. A ring-shaped filter adaptable to surround an annular passage of aplenum defining housing to permit gas fiow between the interior of theplenum housing and the exterior of said housing comprising at least twoarclike semicircular filter frame sectors, each including a pair ofsubstantially fiat semicircular spaced opposed joined and parallel gasimpervious wall members having semicircular filter media disposedtherebetween with the edges of the media engaging said opposed wallmembers, said sectors being disposed in endto-end hingedly connectedrelationship to form said ring with one pair of adjacent ends of saidend-to-end sectors being held together by perimetric releasable clampmeans connected to at least one of said sectors; and sealing'stripsdisposed along the peripheral edges of said opposed wall members andbetween the ends thereof to permit gastight engagement of said filterframe about said annular passage of said plenum defining housing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, said other pairs of adjacent ends of saidend-to-end sectors being held together pivotally by pivot meanspositioned adjacent the outer periphery of said sectors, the sealingstrip being positioned along the interior peripheral edges of said wallmembers.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, said releasable clamp means comprising anovercenter hook latch pivotally mounted intermediate said spaced opposedwall members at one end of said pair of adjacent ends of said sectors toextend longitudinally along the periphery of said ring-shaped filter,said other end of 5 said pair of adjacent ends of said sectors having aV-notched keeper disposed therein to receive the hook portion of saidhook latch.

1. A ring-shaped filter adaptable to surround an annular passage of a plenum defining housing to permit gas flow between the interior of the plenum housing and the exterior of said housing comprising at least two arclike semicircular filter frame sectors, each including a pair of substantially flat semicircular spaced opposed joined and parallel gas impervious wall members having semicircular filter media disposed therebetween with the edges of the media engaging said opposed wall members, said sectors being disposed in end-to-end hingedly connected relationship to form said ring with one pair of adjacenT ends of said end-to-end sectors being held together by perimetric releasable clamp means connected to at least one of said sectors; and sealing strips disposed along the peripheral edges of said opposed wall members and between the ends thereof to permit gastight engagement of said filter frame about said annular passage of said plenum defining housing.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, said other pairs of adjacent ends of said end-to-end sectors being held together pivotally by pivot means positioned adjacent the outer periphery of said sectors, the sealing strip being positioned along the interior peripheral edges of said wall members.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, said releasable clamp means comprising an overcenter hook latch pivotally mounted intermediate said spaced opposed wall members at one end of said pair of adjacent ends of said sectors to extend longitudinally along the periphery of said ring-shaped filter, said other end of said pair of adjacent ends of said sectors having a V-notched keeper disposed therein to receive the hook portion of said hook latch. 